Attachment for vehicle-tops.



C. S. FAIL.

ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE TOPS. APPLICATION 'FILED iULYZl. 1913. 1 ,142,317, Patented June 8, 1915.

T I 2 SHEETS-SHEET s PETERS 59., PHOTC'L/THO WASHINGTON, D. C.

THE NORR! C. S. FAIL.

ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED lULY21,1913.

1 1 4:2, 3 1 7 Patented une 8, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0, PHOT0-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. u.

' hicle-Tops, of which CHARLES S. FAIL, OF CHARITON, IOWA.

ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLE-TOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Application filed July 21, 1913. Serial No. 780,257.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. FAIL, citizen of the United States, residing at Chariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Attachments for Vethe following is a speci- This invention relates to automobile, buggy and other vehicle tops and more particularly to an improvement in thebraces and other supporting elements for the same, the primary object of the invention being to provide means whereby the braces or other similar elements such for example as the bows, may be adjusted as regards their length or the location of their pivot points.

It is a well known fact that buggy and automobile tops are liable to shrinkage or expansion and when this change takes place it is diificult to properly position the top as a whole when raised. The present inven= tion, therefore, aims to provide means whereby the pivot point about which the braces or bows swing in raising or lowering the top, may have its location varied so as to compensate for shrinkage or expansion of the top.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle top equipped withthe present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the adjustment device, the said figure illustrating in dotted lines several positions of adjustment. F ig. 3 is a perspective View of the device. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view looking at the forward side of the back stay of the top. Fig.

.5 1s a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the adjusting arm.

In the drawings the cover or top is indicated in general by the reference numeral 1 and is of the ordinary construction, and the bows supporting this cover are indicated at 2 and are also of the ordinary construction and arranged in the usual manner, depending upon the character of the top and the type of vehicle for which it is to serve as a cover. The forward brace of the top is in dicated at 3 and therear brace is indicated at 4, these braces being provided with the usual joints 5 and 6 respectively.

The numeral 7 indicates the usual bracket upon which the brace instance'of the present invention instead of directly pivotally connecting the lower end i 4 is to pivot and in theof the brace 4 to the bracket there is interposed between the said end of the brace and the supporting end of the bracket, an arm which is angularly adjustable about the end of the bracket and to which the lower end of the brace is connected.

The arm mentioned above is indicated by the numeral 8 and while relatively short may vary as to length, depending upon the size of the top as a whole. The arm 8 is provided in one end with an opening 9 which receives the usual reduced end 10 of the laterally projecting portion of the bracket 7, the usual nut 11 being threaded upon the said reduced end of the said portion of the bracket whereby to hold the arm against displacement, the arm being arranged for pivotal movement about the end 10 of the bracket in the same manner as would be the lower end of the brace 4 if the arm were not provided. At its other end the arm 8 is formed with a laterally projecting stud 12 which adjacent its juncture with the arm is of conical form as indicated at 13. The inner end of the stud is of less diameter than the end'of the arm and as a consequence a shoulder 14 is formed which surrounds the said end of the stud, this shoulder being provided with an annular series of serrations 15 or being otherwise roughened for a purpose which will be presently made apparen At its end the stud is threaded as at 16 and a nut 17 is fitted thereon. The brace 4 at its lower end is formed with a tapered opening 18 adapted to fit over the conical portion 13 of the stud l2 and the said end of the brace surrounding the opening 18 has a flat face 19 adapt ed to contact with the shoulder 14.

' In assembling the parts above described the arm 8 is applied to the bracket 7 with the reduced end 10 fitting in the opening 9 in such manner that the arm may pivot about the said end of the bracket as before stated, after which the nut 11 is fitted on to the bracket. The lower end of the brace 4 is then engaged with the arm 8 by fitting the stud 12 into the opening 18 and the nut 17 is then tightened so as to bear firmly against the said end of the brace and'cause the wall of the opening 18 to firmly bind against the conical surface of the stud; Prior to tightening the nut 17 the arm 8 is so adjusted that when the top is raised the brace 4 will be rigid and of such length, by reason of the angular adjustment of the arm 8, that at the lower end of the rear as to hold the cover when stretched. tight.

the drawings it will be apparent that the arm may be adjusted to assume any desired angular position with respect to the bracket 7 and as a consequence a great latitude of adjustment is provided ror.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings the numeral 20 indicates the shifting rail and 21 one of the back stays comprising a portion of the back of the top. The stay 21 is of the usual form except that between its plies there is interposed a plate 22 which serves to stiflen the lower end of the back stay and prevent its bending or buckling, In order that the said lower end of the back stay may be properly connected with the shifting rail, two or more hooks 23 are provided each of these hooks having a flat shank portion 24: secured by rivets 25 which pass through the back stay and through a reinforcing plate 26 disposed against the rear or outer side of the stay.

Ihese hooks 23 are fitted or engaged beneath the shifting rail and are bent to embrace the said rail.

While the device embodying the present invention is shown and described as applied brace it will be readily understood that it may be applied at the pivot for the bows, at the upper end of the rear brace or, in fact, at any other point in the frame of the vehicle top where it may be found expedient.

Having described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. In a vehicle top, a supporting member, a top bracing member, an arm pivoted at one end on the supporting member and having a pivotal connection at its opposite end with the top bracing member and adjustable about said pivotal connection, and means for securing the arm in its adjusted position relative to the top bracing member.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the 2. In a vehicle top, a supporting member, a top bracing member having an eye at its lower end, an arm provided at one end with a stud engaging said eye and pivotally connected at its opposite end to the supporting member, and a nut threaded upon the stud and bearing against the bracing member for holding the same at angular adjustment with respect to the arm.

In a vehicle top, a supporting member, a top bracing member having a tapered opening at its lower end, an arm having a conical lateral stud at one end fitting inand extending through said opening and having an eye at its opposite end pivotally fitting on the end of the supporting member, and a nut threaded upon the stud and bearing against the bracing member whereby same at angular adjustment with respect to the arm.

4:. In a vehicle top, a supporting member having a reduced end, an arm having an eye pivotally fitting on said end, means for retaining said arm in engagement with said end, a conical lateral stud at the opposite end of said arm, the arm being provided with an annular shoulder around the base of said stud, a top bracing. member provided at its lower end with a tapered opening fitting on said conical stud whereby said member may be adjusted relative to nut threaded upon the extremity of said stud and bearing against the said bracing arm whereby to nular shoulder in a set angular relation to the arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES s. FAIL. a s.]

Witnesses SAML Boon, GUY Romans. 7

Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C.

the arm, and a.

hold the same against said an-' I to hold the q 

